Tributes have been paid to the father of one of Nuneaton?s most celebrated sporting sons.

Bernard ?Biscuit? Winterburn, father of Premiership soccer star Nigel Winterburn, died quietly at his Fillongley home on Saturday, aged 72.

He had only been diagnosed with lung cancer seven weeks ago and his death came as a shock to his wife and son, who made his name with Arsenal, England and West Ham.

Mavis Winterburn, 69, said: ?It has hit Nigel hard. We hadn?t really had time to come to terms with it. At first they said they could operate or give him radiotherapy, but he got this chest infection and never recovered from it.?

Mrs Winterburn said Bernard, who 53 years ago was a founder member of Fillongley Football Club, was a big influence on his son?s career, starting with Alderman Smith school side, Nuneaton Schoolboys Under 15s and Attleborough Mills.

She said: ?Nigel really looked up to his dad. He used to run him about all over the place.?

But Mrs Winterburn said Nigel did not inherit his father?s placid nature.

She said: ?We have lived in Fillongley all our lives and Biscuit never fell out with anybody. I don?t think he was booked in the whole time he was playing.

?Nigel has been booked quite a few times. I think he got more of my temper than his dad?s.?

Even now Mrs Winterburn doesn?t know exactly where her husband?s nickname of Biscuit came from, though he had it at school.

Mr Winterburn also leaves behind grandchildren James, Joe and Abbey.

The funeral service is at Fillongley Parish Church at 11am on Monday.

Floral tributes should be directed to A Pargetter and Son, City Mews, Lamb Street, Coventry.